Window-shade.



m. 7:61:32. Patented -nec."2a,' 902. P. a. E-MERY.

WINDUW (SHADE.

(Appliation fue@ Aug. 26, 1900.

(No Model.)

UNITED STATns `ATENT OFFICE.

PLATO G. EMERY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

WINDOW-SHADE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of' Letters Patent No. 716,832, dated December 23, 1902.

Application filed August 20, 1900. Serial No. 27,490. (No model.)

To all whom, in may concern:

Beit known that I, PLATO G. EMERY, acitizenof the United States, and a resident of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Window-Shades, of which the following is a specification, and which are illustrated in the accom panying drawings, forming a part thereof.

This invention relates to that type of window-shades which comprise a curtain wound upon a spring-roller and provided with a stick having means for frictionally engaging the window-casing to hold the curtain against the tension of the spring; and it has reference more particularly to that style of shade which is known to the trade as the pinch-handle shade, in which friction engaging means at the end of the stick are controlled and operated by means of linger-pieces or handles projecting through the .stick at or about its middle.

The object of the invention is to provide the window-stick with a device for guiding the shade in its vertical movement and also for frictionally engaging the window-casing to hold the shade against the tension of the spring-roller.

The invention consists in the devices hereinafter fully described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a detail elevation of the shade, partly broken away, as mounted in a windowframe. Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 22 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is alongitudinal section, partly broken away, of the shade-stick and its appurtenances. Fig. 4 is a face view of one of the friction guiding devices shown in Fig. 3, some portions of the shoe thereof being broken away. Figs.`5 and 6 are elevations, from different points'of view, of one'of the rollers mounted within the shoe. Fig. 7 is a detail section on the line 7 7 of Fig. 4. Fig. 8 shows details in perspective of one of the finger-pieces or handles for controlling the friction guiding devices and a jam-nut used in conjunction therewith. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a friction guiding device for a window-shade, showinga modified construction. Fig. 10 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of a friction guiding device, showing a further modification.

A curtain 27 is mounted on a spring-roller 28 in a window-frame 25 and provided at its lower end with a hollow shade-stick 29, which is provided at each end with a combined friction and guiding device arranged to operate in the vertical guide-grooves 26 in the frame. The combined friction and guiding device is carried at the ends of the' stick and consists of an elongatedshoe or casing 36, provided with a shank or stem 30, which operates in the end of the stick. A rod 3l is arranged in the stick and has one end screwed into the inner end of the shank 3() and its otherlend having a screw-threaded connection with a handle orliinger-piece, said handle consisting of a head 32 and a depending arm 33, which projects through a suitable longitudinal aperture or slot in the stick. A jam-nut 35 may be arranged upon the end of the rod 31 to prevent the rotation of the latter within the aperture of the handle; but this jam-nut may he omitted, if desired.

. The expanding spring 34 is interposed between the handles within the stick to'hold the guiding devices in their extended position, this springbeing preferably arranged on the adjacentv ends of the rods 31.

The shoe of the guiding device is composed of a piece of ysheet metal folded to substantially U shape, its outer edges, constituting the ends of the arms of the U being inturned, as shown at 37, to form a pair of longitudinal iianges, these iianges being continued along the ends of the channel formed by the folding of the plate. Within this shoe are loosely mounted a plurality of rollers 38, each having a pair of trunnions 39 for engaging the flanges 37, so that while the rollers are free to turn they are held within the shoe by their trunnions. These rollers are as many in number as the shoe will accommodate, and their peripheries project from the channel in the outer face of the shoe, so as to bear against the bottom of the groove 26. Under the normal action of the spring 34 the rollers 38 are forcibly held against the window-frame, and their friction against each other and against the back wall of the guide-shoe prevents them from turning, so that the shade is held against the tension of the spring and its roller.

The shade is easily controlled by means of the handles 33. In shades of this character,

TOO

which are usually used in railway-cars, it is necessary to provide against displacement of the shade by reason of careless or unintelligent manipulation, as the shade issubject to the control of each passenger. Not infrequently the stick is seized near one of its ends in order to draw down or raise the shade, and as a result there is a tendency to tilt it. The friction guiding devices are of sufficient length to guide the stick and hold it in horizontal position under all ordinary conditions; but if the attempt is made to lower or raise the shade by tilting it the pressure is transferred from all of the rollers 38 to one at the end of each shoe, being the roller at opposite ends of the two shoes, and in this event the friction of the rollers against each other is relieved and the shade freely moves, notwithstanding the fact that the guiding devices have not been withdrawn by operating the handles in the usual manner. As soon as the hand-pressure is released from the stick the expansive tension of the spring 34 will tend to bring the stick to a horizontal position, one of the guiding devices moving upwardly and the other downwardly until the bearing is upon all of the rollers.

In the construction shown in Fig. lO trunnioned rollers 38 are employed, but are of less number than as shown in Figs. l, 2, 3, and 4, so that normally they are out of contact. These rollers are held apart in the following manner: A plate 59 is secured along the inside face of each side wall of the shoe 36, and at each end of the plate 59 is an aperture, as shown at 60, for loosely receiving the trunnion of the end roller, this aperture having an abrupt shoulder which prevents the roller from receding from the end of the shoe.

Intermediate of its ends the upper edge of the plate 59 is cnt in zigzag form, as shown at 61, leaving a depression for each of the rollers 38, so that as the shade is moved in either direction without first withdrawing the guiding devices the trunnions of the rollers 38 tend to ride up an incline, forcing them against the window-casing, and thereby increasing the friction.

In lieu of the trunnioned rollers 38 the case 36 may be filled with rollers in the form of balls 50, held by the Iianges 47 and impinging frictionally against each other and against the back wall of the guide-shoe in the same manner as the rollers 38. For convenience of assembling one or both ends of the shoe may be provided with a removable block 5l. (See Fig. 9.)

An additional feature of my invention consists in Vproviding a spring-stop for the friction guiding,r devices, which permits them to be Withdrawn from engagement with the window-casing without being entirely withdrawn from the groove 26; but upon the application of greater force to draw the handles together the spring-stop yields to allow the guiding devices to be entirely withdrawn from their grooves. This yielding stop consists of a spring 55, encircling the spring 34, but of less length, so that it is not compressed by a limited movement of the finger-pieces, but may be compressed sufficiently by a further movement to withdraw the guiding devices from the grooves.

A window-shade embodying my invention is thus provided with a friction device which is at the same time a guiding device, and in the normal operation of the shade to move it vertically the yielding stop constituted by the spring 55 prevents the handles being compressed suficiently to withdraw the friction guiding devices from their guide-grooves; but this result can readily be accomplished by exerting sufficient pressure on the handles to overcome the tension of the spring 55 in the manner described. The combined friction and guiding device is of very simple construction and is free from complicated or delicate parts, which are apt to become worn or which will get out of order, and it can be manufactured inexpensively.

In shades of this character the curtains are generally mounted on spring-rollers, as herein shown and described; but it will be understood that any other means may be employed for producing a constant upward pull on the shade.

I have shown and described a single spring for extending both of the friction devices and also a yielding stop consisting of a single spring; but it will be understood, of course, that I may employ separate springs for each of the friction guiding devices, operating in the same manner and accomplishing the same result.

Having thus fully described myinvention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a window-shade, the combination of a hollow shade-stick, guiding devices carried by said stick and means for moving the same inwardly and a yielding stop normally inactive for limiting the inward movement of said guiding devices.

2. In a window-shade, the combination of a hollow shade-stick, a friction guiding device at each end of the stick, and means for moving the same inwardly, and a yielding stop normally inactive for limiting the inward movement of said friction guiding devices.

3. In a window-shade, the combination of a hollow shade-stick, spring-extended guiding devices carried by said stick, and means for moving the same inwardly, and a yielding stop normally inactive for limiting the inward movement of said devices.

4. In a window-shade, the combination of a hollow shade-stick, spring-extended friction guiding devices carried by the stick, and means for moving the same inwardly, and a device normally inactive for increasing the resistance thereto as said devices are moved inwardly.

5. In a window-shade, the combination of a hollow shade-stick, spring-extended friction IOO IIC

IIS

guiding devices carried by the stick, and a spring located between said devices and normally out of operative engagement therewith, but forming a resistance to the continued inward movement of said devices.

G. In a Window-shade, the combination of a hollow shade-stick, friction guiding devices carried by the stick, a spring constantly operating upon said devices to hold them eX- tended, and a spring normally out of operative engagement with said devices, while the latter are in operative position in a window-frame, but forming a resistance to the continued inward movement of said devices.

7. In a Window-shade, the combination of a hollow shadestick, rods arranged in said stick, friction guiding devices carried on the outer ends of said rods, handles carried on the inner ends of said rods and projecting through an aperture in the stick, aspring located between the handles for extending the friction guiding devices anda second spring so disposed as to supplement the first spring upon the continued inward movement of the handles.

8. In a Window-shade, the combination of a hollow shade stick, rods arranged in said stick, friction guiding devices carried on the outer endsof said rods, handles on the inner ends of said rods and projecting through an aperture in the stick, a spring located between the handles and bearing thereon and a second spring encircling the first spring and adapted to supplement said first spring upon the continued inward movement of the handles.

9. In a window shade, the combination with a shade-stick, of a friction guiding device carried thereby and comprising a shoe, and a series of rollers loosely arranged in the shoe and adapted to frictionally engage the back Wall of the guide-shoe.

10. lIn a Window-shade, the combination with a shade-stick, of a friction guiding device carried thereby and comprising a shoe, and a series of successivelyimpinging rollers loosely arranged in the shoe and free to frictionally engage the back wall of the guideshoe.

PLATO G. EMERY.

Vitnesses: i

Louis K. GILLsoN, E. M. KLATGHER. 

